Positioning of a subcutateous device and method

Abstract

A subcutaneous medical device system includes a subcutaneous medical device, a magnetic element arranged on a portion of the subcutaneous medical device, the magnetic element including at least two poles, and a magnetic detector arranged spaced apart from the magnetic element and outside of a patient. The magnetic detector includes a single magnetic sensor and a processor coupled to the single magnetic sensor. The processor is programmed to determine a position of the portion of the subcutaneous medical device within the patient based on a static magnetic flux measurement of the magnetic element by the single magnetic sensor without externally applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic element.

1 . A method for determining a position of a portion of a subcutaneous medical device within a patient, the method comprising:
 inserting the subcutaneous medical device into the patient, wherein a portion of the subcutaneous medical device includes a magnetic element, the magnetic element including at least two poles;   moving a magnetic detector, which includes a single magnetic sensor and is arranged outside of the patient, along the patient until static magnetic flux of the magnetic element is detected; and   determining, using a processor coupled to the single magnetic sensor, the position of the portion of the subcutaneous medical device within the patient based on a measurement of the detected static magnetic flux of the magnetic element by the single magnetic sensor without applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic element, the method further comprising   measuring the static magnetic flux of the magnetic element over a period of time while the magnetic sensor and magnetic element are in a fixed position relative to each other; and   determining whether or not the subcutaneous medical device is inserted into an artery in the patient based on changes in magnetic flux of the magnetic element over the period of time.   
     
     
         2 . A method for determining a three-dimensional position of a portion of a subcutaneous medical device within a patient, the method comprising:
 inserting the subcutaneous medical device into the patient, wherein the subcutaneous medical device includes a magnetic element, the magnetic element including at least two poles;   obtaining a static magnetic flux measurement from each of magnetic sensor of a magnetic sensor array; and   determining, using a processor coupled to the magnetic sensor array, the three-dimensional position, inclination angle, and orientation of the subcutaneous medical device within the patient based on a single static magnetic flux measurement from only two magnetic sensors of the magnetic sensor array without applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic element, the method further comprising   measuring the static magnetic flux of the magnetic element layover a period of time while the array of magnetic sensors and the magnetic element are in a fixed position relative to each other; and   determining whether or not the subcutaneous medical device is inserted into an artery in the patient based on changes in magnetic flux of the magnetic element layover the period of time.